COVERED DRIVE-THRU at entrance to early childhood facilities

Provides protection from inclement weather while assisting young children into and out of car seats or seat belts.

EARLY CHILDHOOD FACILITIES at ground level

Facilitates evacuation of small children in an emergency and eliminates the need to carry baby and belongings up or down stairs.

RECEIVING/CHECK-IN AREA, or a widening of the hallway outside preschool classrooms

Provides a place for acquiring adequate enrollment information on each child, facilitates receiving and dismissal of preschool children without congesting hallway.

BABY/TODDLER RECEIVING COUNTER/ DESK

NOTE: Keep all counters low, at 28 inches from the floor. Provide a few chairs at one end of the counter for the new parents to use during the enrollment process.

Provides a surface on which to receive the Baby/Toddler and his belongings and a writing surface for the parents.

ONE-WAY OBSERVATION WINDOW in the door or wall of each classroom

Encourages visitors to view the facilities and personnel provided for their children; permits parents to periodically check on their preschooler without disturbing the class; allows superintendent to evaluate the staff and determine training needs.

ROOM *SIZECAPACITY

Baby Toddler500 sq. ft.8

2-year-old750 sq. ft.16

3-5-year-old900 sq. ft.20

*includes space for furnishings

NOTE: Large churches should provide multiple classrooms at each age level

Provides space needs for good care and optimum learning conditions; limited class size reduces student distractibility and classroom chaos; allows space to be adaptable to most daycare requirements.

BATHROOM FACILITIES:

ADULT-SIZE bathroom available adjacent to baby/toddler area

CHILD-SIZE flush toilets; one for every sixteen children or one per classroom, 1-5-year-olds

SINKS equipped with drinking fountain attach-ment, located in the room for 1-5-year-olds, as an extension of the art center

VENTILATION FANS

Adult-size bathroom promotes good hygiene of baby/toddler workers and can be used to rinse occasional cloth diapers.

Child-size flush toilets meet the young child’s frequent bathrooming needs, can be monitored by teaching staff and reduces the risk of loosing a child in the hallway.

In-class sinks with drinking fountains eliminate the need for paper cups, can be supervised by the staff, and provides a water source and clean-up area for the art center.

Ventilation fans help reduce odors in baby/toddler diapering areas and preschool bathrooms.

DIAPER BAG STORAGE: provide cubbies that open from the receiving area into the area where the babies will be changed

Makes diaper bags accessible to the parent as well as the baby’s caregiver; facilitates coordination of the baby’s belonging with a corresponding check-in numbering system; helps to reduce the chances of mix-up with diaper bags and giving the baby a formula to which he may be allergic.

DIAPERING COUNTER: place counter 28-30 inches from floor, provide washable surface and lip along front edge to hold pad in place

Reduces the height to which baby or toddler must be lifted, provides for ease in diapering without baby being too high.

FLOOR COVERINGS:
baby classroom:
carpet with action back. Make sure the carpeting chosen meets life safety and building codes. May extend carpeting up wall 24-inches.

1-5-year-old classroom:
two-thirds carpeted, one-third covered with sheet vinyl or tile (adjacent to the bathroom and sink)

Reduces noise level in room, provides a warmer surface for play on the floor; cushions fall and reduces injury. The sheet vinyl or tile surface is appropriate for the art and snack centers and simplifies cleaning.

WINDOWS:
provide low windows using safety glass, as specified by building codes, in rooms used by toddlers through 5-year-olds

Provides natural light, a happier room climate, and extends natural learning experiences as they reveal God’s wonders to the young child.

TELEPHONE JACK in early childhood area

Provides capability for meeting this daycare requirement.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES:
baby/2-year-old classroom: provide receptacles above counter tops, none at child’s level.
3-5-year-old classroom:
provide two to four receptacles equipping lower ones with special safety devices

Provides receptacles for bottle warmer, small refrigerator, washer, dryer, record or tape players, audio-visual equipment, etc. Eliminates the need for extension cords.

PEGS OR SMALL COAT HOOKS mounted on a board and attached to the wall 36-inches from the floor

Allows the 2-5-year-old to hang up his own coat. May be placed in the hallway or in the classroom. If the classroom opens into a courtyard or play area, place the hooks in the classroom.

WALL-HUNG CABINETS
mounted four feet above floor

NOTE: Provide as little under-counter storage as possible in rooms where children are on the floor

Provides storage for teaching supplies without taking up floor space, keeps equipment out of child’s reach when it is not to be used.

SUNKEN OR RAISED AREA
in classrooms for 3-5-year-olds, large enough to accommodate room’s capacity

Provides setting for worship time and storytelling with built-in seating.

RESOURCE CENTER
equipped with shelving for organizing expendable and shared equipment

Reduces duplication of equipment, makes supplies centrally available to all classrooms.